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Angles: A Muted Reality

By Mark Corroto
September 13, 2022
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For Swedish saxophonist

Martin Kuchen

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Martin Kuchen, all music is folk music. Proof of that statement is the Angles' release A Muted Reality. Whether he is referencing Balkan, African, Swedish, American jazz or Spanish dialects, he is drawing on kindred spirits in his music. With the various editions of his Angles projects, from trios to 10-piece small big bands, he releases music of the people, i.e. people music. This version of K��chen's Angles is an octet and the eleventh in a continuous series of outstanding recordings.

The title track opens the disc. It is a melancholic cort��ge that progresses from its initial darkness to a heightened state of energy. Muted trumpet is accompanied by vibraphone and eventually K��chen's alto saxophone and

Alexander Zethson

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexander Zethson's piano solos which arc into a crescendo of sound. The impression is of an Eastern version of the

Gil Evans

composer / conductor
1912 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Evans/

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis Sketches of Spain (Columbia, 1960) with a muddy take on third stream sound. The same reference to Eastern folk can be heard with "The Hidden Balcony" which settles into a perpetual groove accented by

Mats Aleklint

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Mats Aleklint's thunderous trombone and a Bohemian dance ending. The brilliance here is K��chen's arrangements for these eight talented musicians. He can combine beautiful ensemble playing and raw soloing, neither seeming inconsistent with the other. The finale, "Fkk Down, Fkk Off" is a swinging boogie-woogie treat, performed at breakneck speed. It might make

Gene Krupa

drums
1909 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Krupa and

Cab Calloway

composer / conductor
1907 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Cab Calloway smile.

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Track Listing

Muted Reality; The Hidden Balcony; Fkk Down, Fkk Off.

Personnel

Martin Kuchen

saxophone

Magnus Broo

trumpet

Goran Kajfes

trumpet

Johan Berthling

bass, acoustic

Konrad Agnas

drums

Mats Aleklint

trombone

Mattias St?hl

vibraphone

Alexander Zethson

keyboards

Additional Instrumentation

Goran Kajfes; Maestro soundsystem for woodwinds pedal; handclap; additional percussion; Mats ?leklint: sousaphone; handclap; additional percussion; Mattias St?hl: handclap; additional percussion; Alexander Zethson: Juno 106; handclap; additional percussion; Martin K��chen: handclap; additional percussion.

Album information

Title: A Muted Reality | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Clean

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